Cotton-chopper



(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 1. W. H. TAYLOR.

COTTON SHOPPER.

No. 593,002. Patented Nov 2, 1897.

rllllllllll ""HHHIHHIIHI HHIIHIIHIIIIHIHHIHIHU!l imm 3 Sheets-Shea?I 2.

W. H. TAYLDR. COTTON GHQPPBR.

(No Modl.)

. MJ f w f, w I y f 2 T a, .w H N m m Y n .v e L a .v P W MJ .DH qw .v w/ 4M 2. 0 0 3, 9 Y 5 MHH. Uuml... W

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W. H. TAYLOR. OUTTON GHOPPER.

No. 593,002. Patented Nov. Z, 1897.

@QM a l f f UNITED "STATES PATENT @einem VILLIAM HARLOV TAYLOR, OF TEMPLE, TEXAS.

coTToN-,cI-Iopeea.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,002, dated November 2, 189'?. Appneeeen nea December 1v, 1896. serai No. ciao3/i. (ne model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that l, WILLIAM I-IARLOW TAY- LOB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Temple, in the county of Bell and State of Texas, have invented a new and nseful'Cotton-Chopper, of which the foliowingis aspeci iication.

. My invention relates to cotton-choppers, and has for its object to provide a simple and efficient device of this class whereby grass, Weeds, and the like may be removed from the spaces between stands of cotton, corn, and similar vegetation.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear view showing in dotted lines the positions of the members of the hoe-frame when partly elevated. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a reversed arrangement of the draft and operating devices. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the crank-han gers detached. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the locking device whereby the parts are held in position to prevent communication of motion from the ground-wheel to the chopper mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the chopper-blades and securing-plates detached, said blade and securing plate being shown in side elevationand section. Fig. S is a detail view of one of the hoe-frame bars detached.v Fig. 9 is a detail view in section of the Vdirection or guide pulley for the operating-chain. Fig. l0 is a detail view of the standard detached. 'Fig 11 is adetail view of a modified form of standard.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures of the drawings.

The main transverse beam or axle 1 is preferably constructed of flanged iron, and to it are bolted the laterally-bent contiguous extremities of the side bars 2, connected by a transverse bar 3, thus forming a substantially rectangular frame which is braced longitudin ally by tie-rods 4, preferably constructed in the form of bolts and extending through registering perforations, respectively, in the main beam 1 and cross-bar 3. The hounds preferably consist ofa metal frame 5, to which is attached the rea-r end of a tongue G, carrying a suitable whifletree, as in the ordinary practice, the extremities and intermediate arch 7 of said hounds being secured to the main frame by means of the above-described tie-rods 4 and contiguous bolts S, by which the extremities of the side bars 2 are secured, a central bolt 9 engaging the arch. ln Figs. 1 and 2 this hound-frame is shown attached to the main beam; but it is adapted also to be attached to the cross-bar 3 by the same means as those above described, as shown in Fig. 4, thus adapting the machine to be reversed when it is desirable by reason of a preference of the operator to have the supporting or ground wheels 10 located at the rear rather than at the front of the main frame.

Mounted terminally in the transverse members of the main frame are the spindle portions of parallel longitudinal crank-hangers 11,which support a vertically-adj ustable hoeframe consisting of downwardly-convergent side bars 12. The lower extremities of these side bars are connected by a longitudinal hoeshaft 18, and the' upper extremities of said bars, which are attached to the crank-hang ers, are preferably arranged vertically and are provided with means whereby the bars may be adjusted to vary the elevation of their lower extremities or of the hoe-shaftl. The means illustrated in the drawings for accomplishing this vertical adj ustment'of the hoeframe consist of a plurality of half-bearings 14, formed,respectively,in fixed and movable sections 12 and 12b of the upper extremities of the side bars 12, the movable section being preferably pivoted, as at 15, to the fixed section `and being held in its normal position by means of a bolt 17,engaging registering openings in the contiguous extremities of the fixed and movable sections.

It will be seen that either of the sets of halfbearings may be engaged with the reduced journals 1S of the crank-hangers. The front and rear side bars 12 of the hoe-frame are connected in pairs by longitudinal tensionbraces 1Sa and yielding flexible connections 19, having inserted spring-sections connecting the lfront bars 12-with a suitable hanger IOO connection with Fig. 4, may be engaged with y corresponding openings 2li, a plurality of openings being provided upon each side bar to agree with the vertical adjustment of the side bars bythe means heretofore described and consisting of the registering half-bearings 14.

The openings 2l in the side bars, which in any adjustment of the mechanism are at the the rear of the frame, are utilized for the ati tachment of the foot-rests 22, and located over the same is a seat 23, having supportingarms 24, which are reversible in a manner similar to the other parts of the mechanism vto arrange the seat contiguous either to the cross-bar 3, as shown in Figs. l and 2, or to the transverse beam l, as shown in Fig. 4. The hoe-shaft is provided at an intermediate point with a hired plate 25, to which the hoe-stem 26, carrying the hoe or chopper blades 27, is attached, the connection between the extremities of the stein and the blades preferably consisting of secu ring-plates 28, to one extremity of each of which is pivoted a blade, while the other extremity carries a securing-bolt 29,engagingV a slot 30 in the blade. These blades are curved, and the curvature corresponds with that of similar portions of the surface of a cylinder of which the hoeshaft is the axis, and each blade is inclined to the axis of motion or to the hoe-shaft,

whereby one end thereof engages the soil in advance of the other. Furthermore, the terminal edges of each blade are inclined to the length of the blade or to the side edges thereof, said terminal edges being preferably arranged approximately at right angles to each other, whereby the lower or engaging extremity of a blade is sharpened to a point -to facilitate its entrance into the soil. Obviously when the draft mechanism is arranged, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, contiguous to the main beam l the rear edges of the blades will be depressed to first enter the soil, and a reversal of the draft mechanism must be accompanied by a corresponding reversal of the hoe-stem tosecure a proper operation of the hoe-blades, said stem being detachably secured to the shaft.

Various means may be employed for cornmunicating motion to the hoe-shaft, but in the drawings I have shown a driven shaft 30, connected by gears 3l and 32 to one of the ground-.wheels l0, said driving-shaft being mounted in the sliding frame or carrier 33, consisting of lside arms 33, connected by a transverse brace 34 and mounted to slide on one of the tie-rods 4. The gear 3l, which is mounted upon this carrier, is adapted to be arranged in engagement with either of a plurality of gear-faces 32n and 32b on the gear 32, a spring 35 being employed to move the carrier inwardly or into engagement with the inner gear-face when released. Attached to the carrier is a locking device consisting of a handle 36, carrying apawl 37 to engage either of a series ot' notches in the rack 33, whereby the carrier may be locked with the gear 3l in engagement with either face of the gear 32, or out of engagement, to prevent the communication of motion from the ground-wheels to the hoe-shaft.

The driven shaft 30 is connected by gearing with the hoe-shaft 13, in the construction illustrated, by means of chain-wheels 39 and 40 and a chain 4l, the upper side of the latF ter traversing a direction or guide pulley 42, mounted upon one of the cranbhangers l1, between contiguous shoulders or collars 43, said pulley being split to facilitate its application to the crank-hanger and having-its sections held in place by means of transverse pins or rivets 44,` as shown in Fig. L9.

It is desirable, in going to and from a field in which the machine is to be operated, to elevate the choppers or hoe-blades to avoid con-l 9o tact with obstructions in the road, and in order to enable this ,to be accomplished with facility, and at the same time adapt the hoeshaft to be moved laterally to enable the Operator to maintain it accurately in line with the row of plants being cultivated, I attach operating-levers 45 to the squ ared extremities of the crank'hangers, providing each lever with a locking device-such,.for instance, as a pawl 4G-for engaging a segment 47.

It is obvious that when both handles are swung to the right the hoe-shaft will be moved IOC) acorresponding distance to .the left, andvice versa, thus enabling the operator to follow with accuracy any irregularities in the rows of plants and cause the hoes to operate with precision, and when it is `desired to elevate the hoes it may be accompished by swinging both of the levers outward, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. This figure shows the hoe-frame elevated only a portion of the distance of which it is capable. The motion of the levers may be continued until they reach a vertical position opposite to that normally occupied thereby, when the hoe-blades Will be at such a height from the ground as to avoid meeting obstructions.

In order to support the portion of the frame remote from the transverse beam, I preferably employ standards 48, having round spindle portions 49, extending through suitable openings in the contiguous portions of the side bars 2 and loclredin the desired positions by means of nuts 50. Obviously when the draft mechanism is reversed to the position shown in Fig. 4 the runner portions 51 of the standards are reversed to extend rearwardly.

In Fig. 1l I have shown a slightly-modified form of standard wherein a colter or supporting-wheel is employed.

The double/gear which I employ for cornmunicating motion to the mechanism enables me to .drive the latter at different speeds, as it is desirable to have increased speed of the IIO iZO

hoe-shaft in cutting grass and weeds between stands of cotton.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is l. In a cotton-chopper, the combination with a supporting-frame, of -a folding hoe-A frame having pivotally-connected side bars, crank-hangers supporting the side bars, and means for turning the hangers to elevate the side bars, a hoe-shaft mounted in the hoeframe, and means for communicating rotary motion to the shaft, substantially as specified.

2. In a cotton-chopper, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a folding hoeframe having downwardly-convergent side bars pivotally connected at their lower extremities, crank-han gers upon which the upper extremities of the side bars are fulcrumed, means for turning the crank-hangers to elevate the side bars, a hoe-shaft mounted coaxially with the pivotal point of connection Yof the lower extremity of the side bars, and means for communicating rotary motion to the hoe-shaft, substantially as specified.

3. In a cotton-chopper, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a folding hoeframe having downwardly-convergent side bars pivotally connected at their lower extremities, crank-hangers mounted in the supporting-frame and having the upper extremities of the side bars of the hoe-frame fulcrumed thereon, means for varying the vertical adjustment of the side bars with relation to the crank-hangers, means for turning lthe crank-hangers to fold and elevate the hoe-frame, a hoe-shaft supported by the hoeframe, and means for communicating rotary motion to the hoe-shaft, substantially as specified.

et. In a cotton-chopper, the combination with a supporting-frame, of parallel crankhangers, side bars fulcrumed contiguous to their upper ends upon the crank-hangers, and having downwardly-convergent portions pivotally connected together at their lower extremities, said side bars being provided with fixed and movable sections provided with registering half-bearings to engage the journal portions of the crank-hangers, and means for securing the movable section in its operative position, a hoe-shaft mounted upon the hoeframe, and means for communicating rotary motion to the hoe-shaft, substantially as specified.'

5. In a cotton-chopper, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a folding hoeframe having crank-hangers, side bars fulcrumed upon the crank-han gers and provided with downward]y-convergent portions pivotally connected at their lower extremities, a hoe-shaft mounted upon the hoe-frame, means for communicating rotary motion to the hoeshaft, levers attached to the extremities of the crank-hangers, and means for securing said levers in their adjusted positions, substantially as specied.

6. In a cotton-chopper, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a hoe-frame having crank-hangers mounted for lateral swinging movement, means for varying the lateral position of the hoe-frame by the angular adjustment of the hangers, locking devices for the same, a hoe-shaft mounted upon the hoeframe, and means for communicating rotary motion to said shaft, substantially as speciiied.

7. In a cotton-chopper, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a hoe-shaft and means for communicating rotary motion thereto, and hoe-blades carried by stems attached to the hoe-shaft and arranged angularly with relation to said shaft, said blades being provided with terminal diagonal divergent edges, substantially as specified.

8. In a cotton-chopper, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a hoe-shaft and means for communicating rotary motion thereto, hoe-stems carried by the shaft and provided with terminal transversely-disposed securing-plates,hoe-blades pivotally mounted at .the extremities of the hoe-stems upon said plates, and means for securing said blades at the desired angular adjustment, substantiallylv as specified.

9. In a cotton-chopper, the combination with a main frame having a transverse beam bearing ground-wheels, side bars, and a crossbar parallel with the said beam, tie-rods connecting said transverse bar and beam, a hoeframe supported by the main frame, acarrier mounted to slide upon the main frame, ahoeshaft, a driven shaft operatively geared with the hoe-shaft, said driven shaft being provided with a gear to mesh with a gear on a contiguous ground-wheel, yielding means for normally holding said carrier in its operative position, and a locking device for holding the carrier in its inoperative position against the tension of said spring, substantiallyas specified.

l0. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame having a transverse beam, side bars, andaconnecting cross-bar, tie-rods connecting said' cross-bar and beam, a hoe-frame mounted within the main frame and carrying chopping mechanism, standards arranged contiguous to the extremities of the cross-bar, and draft mechanism and means for attaching the same interchangeably to the beam and cross-bar, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my si gnature in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM IIARLOV TAYLOR.

Nitn esses WILLIAM RILEY BUTLER, JOHN BLALocK WILLIS.

IOO

IIO 

